https://jslhr.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=1781826Concurrent and Predictive Validity of an Early Language Screening ProgramThe efficacy of screening 2-year-old children for language delay using a parent-report questionnaire was investigated in three studies. The Language Development Survey (Rescorla, 1989) was mailed to 650 families at the time of their child's second birthday. Fifty-three percent of the surveys received by parents were completed and returned. Screening ...1998-06-01T00:00:00Research ArticleThomas Klee

Research Article | June 01, 1998

Concurrent and Predictive Validity of an Early Language Screening Program

The efficacy of screening 2-year-old children for language delay using a parent-report questionnaire was investigated in three studies. The Language Development Survey (Rescorla, 1989) was mailed to 650 families at the time of their child's second birthday. Fifty-three percent of the surveys received by parents were completed and returned. Screening outcomes were then compared, in double-blind fashion, with the results of comprehensive clinical evaluations at ages 2 (N = 64) and 3 (N = 36). Parents' report of the size of their children's expressive vocabularies was highly correlated with clinical language measures at age 2. Children who screened positive performed significantly poorer than children who screened negative on standardized language tests and on measures taken from spontaneous conversation. The screening program demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity for identifying language delay at age 2 but somewhat lower levels for predicting developmental status one year later.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by a grant from the University of Wyoming Faculty Grant-in-Aid program to the first two authors. We gratefully acknowledge our colleagues at the University of Wyoming for their role in this project: E.J. McDonald, Phyllis Willer, and Jan Jelinek. We also thank our dedicated students for their help with data collection and analysis: Gail Muskina, Tracy Donaghy, Dorothy Philp, Leah Gearhardt, Michele Kirkbride, Celeste Gaskins, Janet Hinz, Maureen Cellmer, and Sarah Lee.

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